The Jungle Book on Stage

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 30 September 2019 > What's On

Robert Wilson’s new stage adaptation of The Jungle Book will be on in Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Clermont-Ferrand over the next few months. The visually striking production combines dialogues in French and original songs in English. Wilson created the show with Cocorosie, a music group composed of two American sisters based in France. The show follows … Continue reading “The Jungle Book on Stage”

Voting in the World’s Biggest Democracy

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 23 May 2019 > In the News

After six weeks of voting, the results were as rapid as they were clear: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu Nationalist party, BJP, returned to power with a landslide victory in India’s elections. The Indian electorate is so enormous it represents more than 10% of the population of Earth: over 900 million people. So the election … Continue reading “Voting in the World’s Biggest Democracy”

War Dance

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 20 June 2018 > What's On

Montpellier will see the French première of an extraordinary new dance and theatre piece about the experience of Indian soldiers in World War I on 26 and 27 June. XENOS is the latest creation by British-Bangladeshi dancer and choreographer Akram Khan. The title is ancient Greek for “stranger” or “foreigner” and the piece draws both … Continue reading “War Dance”

Bangladeshi Dance Touring France

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 25 October 2017 > What's On

If you missed the shows choreographed by Akram Khan that toured France last year, there is another chance to catch Chotto Desh between now and December, in Paris, Enghein, Dijon, Lyons and Grenoble. Khan is a British-born Bangladeshi dancer and choreographer, whose work fuses classical Indian dance and stories with contemporary dance. His shows Until … Continue reading “Bangladeshi Dance Touring France”

Happy English Language Day!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 13 October 2017 > Celebrate

On 13 October 1362 the English Parliament was opened for the first time in English rather than Latin or Norman French. Which is why The English Project charity promotes 13 October as English Language Day. Their aim is to celebrate English as a living, evolving language spoken as a first or second language by 2 … Continue reading “Happy English Language Day!”

Victoria and Abdul

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 10 October 2017 > What's On

Twenty years after Mrs Brown, Judi Dench returns to cinema screens as Queen Victoria, in another true story of the Queen’s friendship with one of her servants: Abdul Karim. The story of the widow Victoria’s relationship with John Brown was well documented. He was the gamekeeper on her beloved Scottish Highland estate where she spent … Continue reading “Victoria and Abdul”

Partitioning India

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 04 July 2017 > What's On

Director Gurinder Chadha has given cinema audiences a glimpse of British Asian experience with films like Bend it Like Beckham or Bhaji on the Beach. Now a series of chance encounters has led her to examine a difficult period in her family history and that of the country of her ancestors: the Partition of India … Continue reading “Partitioning India”

Oscars 2017: NotSoWhite

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 16 February 2017 > What's On

The 2016 Oscars received as much publicity for the people and subjects it didn’t honour as the red-carpet dresses or the tearful speeches. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign complained that the nominations to all four top categories only featured white faces and white stories. The 2017 nominations are a radical change. Even if the nostalgic musical La … Continue reading “Oscars 2017: NotSoWhite”

Innovative Indian Dance Shows Tour France

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 12 December 2016 > What's On

Akram Khan, a British-born Bangladeshi dancer and choreographer, brings two shows to France which fuse classical Indian dance and stories with contemporary dance. Catch Until the Lions or Chotto Desh in and around Paris, Miramas, Angers, Sète, Brest or Reims between December and May. The 42-year-old Khan began his professional career at just 13, in … Continue reading “Innovative Indian Dance Shows Tour France”